Spring wheel



July- 26 1927.

G. H. MARTIN SPRING WHEEL Filed May 1. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jul 26 1927.

G. H. MARTIN SPRING WHEEL Filed May 1. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR N E! WITNESS:

Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,637,263 PATENT OFFICE.

, ,srnmo Application ma m 1,

This invention relates to a spring wheel for motor vehicles and the like, the general object ot the invention being to provide a floating casing which is attached to the hub and a secoud easing which is designed to carry the tread part, with springs for res1sting the movement of one casing in relation to the other, the springs being arranged within the casings so that they are protected from the elements and dirt and dust.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the parts that both the springs at the lower part of the wheels and the springs at the upper part of the wheel will be brought into actionsimultaneously.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will he had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or eorrei'sponding parts throughoutthe several views. and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved wheel, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 1s a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are views of the spring engaging studs.

In these views, 1 indicates the hub 01 the wheel which is provided with the flanges 2 and 3. A disk-like plate 4. is fastened to the flange 3 and said plate is formed with the outer flange 5 and the inner flange 6. This flange 6 may be welded to theplate. A disk-like plate 7 is fastened to the flange 2 and engages the free edges of the flanges 5 and 6 so that the plates 4 and 7 and the flange 5 forms a casing which is carried by the hub. The outer casing is formed of aring shaped plate 8, the center hole in which is made considerably larger than the flange 3, and the cover plate 9 which abuts the flange 10 of the plate 8. This cover plate is attached to the plate 8 by the bolts 11 and the ring shaped member 12 located within the inner casing and surrounding the hub is fastened to the/outer casing by the bolts 13 which pass through large holes 14 in the plates 4 and 7 of the inner casing. ThlS a I GEORGE H. MARTIN, OF WARM SPRINGS, MONTANA.

WHEEL.

1926. Serial N0. 106,067,

member 12 is of channel shape: incross sec-' outer face of the member 12. Studs 17 have their heads engaging the flanges 5 and 6 0f the inner casing, with their square stems 18 passing through holes "in said flanges, each stem having a rounded recess 19 therein, the recesses in the stems of the outer set engaging the beads 15 on the flange 10, while the recesses of the innerset engage the beads 16 of themember 12. The underfaces of the heads of the outer row of studs are convexv as shown at 17in Figure 5, while the under faces of the heads of the inner row of studs are coucaved, asshown at 17 in .Figure 4-. Thus these heads conform to the surfaces of the flanges with which they engage. A coiled spring 20 is placed between each pair of studs, the ends ofthe springs engaging rounded projections 21 on the heads of the studs. 1

Ball bearings 22 are placed in depressions 23 formed in the parts 8 and 9 of the outer casing and engage parts of the inner casing and said parts 8 and 9 are provided with annular grooves 2ft for receiving packing material 25 for preventing dirt from entering between the two casings. The projection "forming the inner groove 25 is made large enough to carry the brake drum 26.

Any suitable form of tire or tread can be carried by the flange 10 of the outer casing, Figure 2 showing an ordinary demountable rim 27 fastened thereon by the ring 28 which is bolted to the outer casing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the inner casing floats with respect to the outer casing and that the member 12 is caused to move with the outer casing by being connected thereto by the bolts 13, these bolts passing through large holes in the inner casing so as to not interfere with the relative movement of the casings. The inner casing is connected with the hub and carries the studs and springs, the springs acting to hold the studs against the inner and outer parts of the outer casing. Thus the weight of the vehicle on the hub 1 will cause the inner casing to move downwardly in the outer casing, the outer casing being held against movement by resting on the ground. Thus considering the following relative positions as momentary positions the lower part of the inner casing moves awa 7 from thehead of the lowest stud and the ange 6 pulls the lowest stud of the inner row downwardly with it, thus compressing the lowest spring. The flange of the inner casing causes the top stud of the outer row to move downwardly but the companion stud of the inner row is held stationary by the member 12 so that the uppermost spring is also compressed and the two springs therefore'resist the downward movement of the hub and the inner casing. Of course, the springs other than at the top and bottom of the device come into action and help the springs above mentioned to resist the movement of the parts.

In this manner, the springs act to absorb shocks incident to the travel of the vehicle and take the place of a pneumatic tire and as said springs are enclosed, they will last for a long time and there is but little daner of anything happening to the wheel as --t e trouble incident to the use of pneumatic tires is eliminated.

Itis thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of m invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may i make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A spring wheel comprising a hub, an

inner casing carried thereby, an outer casing,

inner casing carried thereby, said casing having inner and outer flmwes, an outer casing, the casings having re ative n'iovement circumferentially, a row of studs carried by the outer flange of the inner casing and engaging the inner circumference of the outer casing, an inner row of studs movably car ried by the inner flange of the inner casing, a ring arranged within the space between the inner flange of the inner casing and the hub, means for connecting the ring with the outer casing, said ring engaging the inner row of studs and springs arranged between the studs of the inner and outer rows, said springs acting to resiliently space radially therefrom the respective flanges of the inner casing. V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE H. MARTIN. 

